Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Ate Vi and Ralph reshape political arena

by Joel Caballero, ANC | 12/01/2009 1:52 PM

The transfer of Batangas Governor Vilma Santos and her husband, former senator and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Ralph Recto to the Liberal Party (LP) reshaped the political arena.

In an interview Monday on ANC's Talkback with Tina Palma, the power couple said they did not make the decision overnight.

Recto also clarified he was not a member of the Lakas-Kampi party. He said he may have been perceived as a member after he joined the administration's senatorial slate in 2007 and worked as NEDA chief under President Arroyo.

"In the first place, I've never been with Lakas. I was with Nacionalista [Party] in 1992, the same party of my grandfather. I only took my oath twice. Once with NP then recently, with LP," Recto said.

When asked about his reaction to former Senator Serge Osmeña's decision to leave the LP senatorial ticket after he joined the slate, Recto said he respects Osmeña's decision.

He added this does not mean Osmeña has lost his support, or even that of other LP members.

"If Serge left the ticket, that does not mean we will not carry his candidacy because he's still supporting Noynoy [Aquino]," he said.

Gov. Santos admits the Liberal Party does not have much support in her province where the Lakas-Kampi CMD is the dominant party.

But she believes this will eventually change, particularly now that public clamor for a new form of governance is growing.

"Hindi pa rin ganun kalakas ang machinery kung pag-uusapan natin ang machinery ng LP sa Batangas. Dominated pa rin yun ng administration but again people are asking for change. (The LP machinery in Batangas is not that strong, it is still dominated by the administration party, but then again again people are asking for change.)," Santos said.

The couple admits they still have a lot of campaign work to do despite their standard-bearer's [Aquino's] high ratings in recent surveys.

But after the campaign period, the elections and the eventual proclamation of winners, the two are hoping that their dream of helping the nation move forward will be fulfilled, along with the sense that they picked the best candidate of all. (by Joel Caballero, ABS-CBN News Channel)